[27] British MPs express full support to Greek Cypriot stance in Cyprus
talks

"Greece can assume a very important role in the Balkans, Europe,
Mediterranean and the Middle East," main opposition PASOK leader George
Papandreou stressed in statements to reporters on Thursday, during a
press conference marking the end of the 12th Symi Symposium on the
Aegean island of Skiathos, which ended at noon.

The same conclusion was reached by delegates attending the Symposium,
the conclusions of which will be formally presented later in the
evening by Papandreou, 2001 Nobel Prize Laureate in Economics Joseph E.
Stiglitz, and Segolene Royal.

Papandreou underlined that Greece can also play an important role in
Europe-Russia relations and in relations between Europe and Turkey,
with which it can enter into cooperation on energy issues. He also
underlined the need for innovative steps in the utilization of
Renewable Energy Sources (RES).

A reference was made to Greece's potential with regard "green
development" and democracy issues.

Turning to Greece's foreign policy, Papandreou stated that the
government was "suffering a strategy crisis as regards the major
national issues." He made the comment in reference to relations with
Turkey, in light of a recent statement by Turkish Foreign Minister
Ahmet Davutoglu. Papandreou pointed out that "Greece is not adequately
prepared," expressing opposition to a visit to Turkey by the Greek
foreign minister.

He accused the government of dealing with Greek-Turkish relations
issues in a "contradictory manner," using as an example the continental
shelf issue and the "abandonment" on behalf of the government of its
reference to the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

He clarified that for the country and for his party, the issue of the
Muslim minority in Thrace, northeast Greece, "is an exclusively Greek
issue and is not an issue up for discussion with anyone." As regards
the Ecumenical Patriarchate, he stressed that "Greece is concerned
about its fate but it is not a bilateral issue between Greece and
Turkey. It is an obligation on behalf of Turkey toward the European
Union."

Referring to the way the country is governed by the ruling party of New
Democracy (ND), he underlined that the "crime rate, corruption,
lawlessness and whitewash practices are unprecedented."

President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias on Thursday received
Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, who briefed him on developments in
key foreign policy issues.

Afterwards, Bakoyannis said the meeting was carried out in the
framework of regular foreign ministry briefings for the president. She
said they had discussed the results of the Organisation for Security
and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) foreign ministers' meeting on the
Ionian island of Corfu, ongoing negotiations to settle the name dispute
with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and recent
violations of Greece's airspace and flight information region by
Turkish aircraft above the Aegean, over the islands of Agathonissi and
Farmakonissi.

Asked to comment on a statement by the Turkish foreign ministry that
disputed Greek territorial rights in the Aegean, the minister stressed
that Greece and Turkey were only discussing the delineation of the
Aegean continental shelf.

"It is also known that the basis for any discussion is international
law and the agreements that have been signed," she added.

"We will never tire of repeating that the most important thing is for
Ankara to realise that it has obligations that it must honour," the
minister stressed.

Government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros on Thursday stated that
Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos will take part in the first
informal meeting by EU justice and home affairs ministers in Stockholm,
including a discussion on the crucial issue of illegal migration that
is on the agenda.

The spokesman pointed out that the discussion reflected the positions
of the southern European countries, which were included in the final
conclusions of the last EU summit. Antonaros reminded reporters that
Italy and Spain, where Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis carried out
visits last week, were among this group.

"With the countries of southern Europe and especially Italy, which
faces similar problems to our own in terms of the volume of migrants
and in terms of their reception, we have almost identical views. It was
agreed, also, that Greek and Italy intend to continue to coordinate
their policy in the future," he said.

Asked whether Greece intended to emulate Italy's example in terms of
its security law, the spokesman placed emphasis on joint European Union
initiatives, such as forming a common European coast guard or
reinforcing Frontex, while stressing that the problem of illegal
immigration was not just a problem for the countries these immigrants
were trying to enter but all European countries.

He again stressed Greece's position concerning the need for countries
to honour bilateral re-admission agreements.

Justice minister Nikos Dendias chaired a meeting of the directors of
the country's prisons at the justice ministry on Thursday, during which
Dendias called for strict adherence to the correctional code and
especially a new regulation prohibiting the use of cell phones by
inmates.

Dendias further instructed the prison directors to fully respect the
inmates' rights.

The minister announced that the director of the Agias rural prison in
Chania, Crete, Michalis Kyriakakis, and the chief warden of the
Alikarmassos prison, Emmanuel Kougioumtzakis, have been placed on
suspension following sworn administrative inquiries (EDE).

Dendias on Friday had ordered an EDE on Kougioumtzakis following media
reports alleging that he had made arrangements with an inmate at
Trikala prison to ensure his transfer to the Alikarnassos prison.

Two days earlier, Dendias had ordered an EDE on Kyriakakis after the
the prison governor suddenly resigned from his post and a senior prison
policy official reported that Kyriakakis had shown great interest in
the transfer of the prisoner Panagiotis Vlastos from Trikala prisons to
the Nea Alikarnassos prisons. The transfer was never carried out but
Vlastos was later discovered to have masterminded the January
kidnapping of shipowner Pericles Panagopoulos from within Trikala
prison.

The minister also said that he would put before the Disciplinary
Council a recommendation for the dismissal of the two prison
officials.

Further, Dendias announced the tabling in parliament of an amendment
enabling prison inspectors to use trained dogs to locate narcotic
substances inside the prisons, as well as the creation of an Internal
Affairs division in the country's jails that would be headed by a
correctional employee and would comprise police officers and
correctional employees.

Employment and Social Protection Minister Fani Palli-Petralia
inaugurated the "pre-Mediterranean Games Period" with her visit
Thursday to Larissa and Volos in Thessaly, central Greece, the two
host-cities of the 2013 Mediterranean Games.

Petralia stated that the construction of the "Mediterranean Villages"
and the infrastructure needed for the games will contribute to the
further development of Thessaly.

She reminded that she was the Executive Committee President in the
Mediterranean Games of 1991 that served as a model for subsequent games
adding that the goal set for the games in 2013 is to be even better.

As regards the "Mediterranean Villages", she stated that the goal is to
create model facilities that will constitute new generation housing
projects for workers after the games are over. Furthermore, she
underlined that the construction of the "villages" will boost economic
activities and the local market at a difficult economic conjuncture.

Also, the minister met in Larissa with unemployed in the clothing
industry sector, following recent shutdowns of local businesses, and
assured them that everything possible will be done to have their
problems solved, announcing that they will be included in EU-funded
ministry of employment paid training programmes.

Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology leader Alexis Tsipras met
on Thursday with the "Network for Chldren's Rights" non-governmental
organisation president and main opposition PASOK former Eurodeputy
Myrsini Zorba, after which he said that SYRIZA fully endorses the
proposals set out in an open letter sent by the NGO to the political
parties and to the President of the Republic and also called on the
Greek state to also adopt its contents.

"We consider it of great importance to have initiatives and actions by
social organisations that attempt to give a different, sensible
orientation to facing the major social issue of migration and the
refugees, particularly with respect to the rights of child refugees who
come from faraway countries and have the right to life," Tsipras said.

The SYN leader said that a "lasting social and political alliance needs
to be created with the wider progressive forces", a "front of logic and
social sensitivity against the conservative political word that is
prevalent today in the mass media".

Regarding PASOK, which he said has "recently adopted slogans such as
'zero tolerance to illegal migration', which were the prevailing
slogans of the Right and ultra-Right'," Tsipras called on the main
opposition party to "consider its big responsibility for this
transposition of the center of balance of political life towards the
Right". He added his belief that there will be an "immediate response"
by PASOK members and cadres, "if not from its leadership".

Tsipras further said that SYN will have open contact with the Network
and with other NGOs aimed at putting foward solutions and proposals and
at raising social awareness.

Greece and Poland are the worst performing of the 27 European Union
countries in terms of incorporating EU directives for the internal
market into domestic law, according to figures released by the European
Commission on Thursday.

By May 11, Greece and Poland had missed deadlines for incorporating 2.1
percent of Community directives into national legislation, with Greece
having failed to incorporate 34 directives out of 1,606 and Poland
having delayed for 33 directives.

The best performing countries were Denmark with a 'deficit' of 0.2
percent (3 directives) and Bulgaria and Malta with 0.3 percent (5
directives).

The Commission also noted that by May 1, Greece had 88 unresolved cases
for violating rules for the EU internal market. The EU countries with
the highest number were Italy (110 cases) and Spain (96 cases), while
those with the best were Romania (11 cases) and Cyprus (15 cases).

Parliament's Defence and Foreign Affairs Committee on Thursday
unanimously approved a draft bill that ratifies a Greek-Albanian
agreement for the construction of a cemetery for Greek soldiers that
fell in battle on the Albanian front during World War II.

Originally signed in Tirana on February 9, the agreement calls for
seeking out, exhuming, identifying and religious burial of Greek
soldiers that fell during the war in cemeteries constructed in
Albania.

The Greek government will soon table a new draft legislation aimed at
integrating a European Union directive on deregulation of services into
Greek law.

Speaking to reporters, after a meeting of the Inter-ministerial
Commission on the Economy -chaired by Prime Minister Costas
Karamanlis-, Economy and Finance Minister Yiannis Papathanasiou said
"it was the first step to be followed -after study and dialogue- by
changes in closed markets and professions not included in the
directive".

The minister said this was a very significant reform which would
contribute in reducing prices for consumers, boosting economic
competitiveness and growth and supporting employment.

Development Minister Kostis Hatzidakis stressed on Thursday that the
smooth functioning of markets was the government's top priority and
that he would continue to combat instances of unreasonable and unfair
pricing policy. He was speaking in Parliament during a debate on a
draft bill for restructuring the Competition Commission.

"The government will not come to terms with extreme phenomena, will
continue inspections to tackle unfair pricing policies and name the
companies responsible," he stressed, while also listing the measures
already taken in this direction and pointing out that they had already
brought results in terms of small price reductions in basic goods.

PASOK Parliamentary spokesman Christos Papoutsis strongly criticised
the government, however, accusing them of "a nonexistent policy for
market function and healthy competition" and claiming that Greece was
"a paradise for profiteers and a nightmare for low and middle
incomes".

Addressing the 2nd Consultation conducted by Athens Urban Transport
Organization (OASA) on public transport in the greater Athens region
with the participation of all responsible authorities, Stylianidis
reiterated that the ministry focus is on combined transportation means
with an emphasis on rail.

Referring to the consultation underway, he stated that it is the final
step before the completion of a comprehensive urban transport plan for
the Greek capital based on studies launched back in 2006, which is
expected to be ready in September.

According to the plan, a study group will be established within the
framework of OASA that will monitor the evolution of transport
networks, prepare forecasts and present alternative proposals, thus
formulating a concrete public transport policy for the greater Athens
region.

Consumer prices in Greece in 2008 were just below the European Union
average at 94 percent, based on a study released by Eurostat on
Thursday.

The study explored the spread in consumer prices across 37 European
countries in 2008, which were then compared with the average 2008 price
levels for 'Household Final Consumption Expenditure' in the 27 EU
member-states (given a value of 100 percent).

Among the countries included in the report, apart from the 27 EU
member-states, were the EU candidate-countries (Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Croatia and Turkey), three EFTA
countries (Iceland, Norway and Switzerland) and four western Balkan
countries (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia).

The report noted a wide spread in consumer prices across Europe, which
ranged from 53 percent lower that the average in FYROM to 41 percent
higher in Denmark.

Broken down by individual sector, prices in Greece were higher than the
EU average in clothing (113 percent) and footwear (118 percent),
electronic goods (112 percent), telecommunications services (111
percent), furniture (106 percent) and household appliances (106
percent). They were closer to the EU average for foods and
non-alcoholic beverages (101 percent) and below the EU average for
electricity and heating (73 percent), transport (76 percent), alcoholic
beverages and cigarettes (89 percent), cars (93 percent) and hotels (96
percent).

The closest to the EU average in prices was the United Kingdom (99
percent), Spain (96 percent), the Netherlands (103 percent) and Germany
(104 percent). Italy and Austria were both at 105 percent of the
average while Cyprus was at 90 percent.

Greek exports to Libya jumped by 94.3 pct in the first quarter of 2009,
compared with the corresponding period last year, official figures from
the Greek embassy in Tripoli said on Thursday.

An embassy report said that Greek exports to Libya totaled 14.2 million
euros in the January-March period, from 7.3 million in the same period
in 20080, while imports totaled 79.3 million euros, down 83.5 pct from
the same period in 2008 reflecting lower oil prices.

The trade balance between the two countries showed a deficit of 65
million euros in the three-month period, down 86.2 pct from the
corresponding period last year.

ATE Insurance on Thursday announced that premium production rose 11.6
pct in the first half of 2009, to 111.3 million euros, from 99.8
million euros in the corresponding period last year.

More analytically, general insurance recorded a 19.2 pct increase in
premium production, while in life insurance production was down 3.2
pct, reflecting the maturing of contracts. ATE Insurance said its
investment portfolio was beginning to improve and was expected to
spectacularly affect the company's net position in the first half of
the year.

Greek stocks moved higher in the Athens Stock Exchange on Thursday,
pushing the composite index of the market above the 2,200 level again.
The index rose 1.28 pct to end at 2,213.49 points, with turnover at
189.1 million euros, of which 12.7 million were block trades.

Turnover in the Greek electronic secondary bond market remained at a
strong 1.222 billion euros on Thursday, of which 832 million euros were
buy orders and the remaining 390 million were sell orders. The 10-year
benchmark bond (July 19, 2019) was the most heavily traded security
with a turnover of 580 million euros. The yield spread between the
10-year Greek and German bonds shrank to 155 basis points, with the
Greek bond yielding 4.92 pct and the German Bund 3.37 pct.

The September contract on the FTSE 20 index was trading at a reduced
discount (-0.38 pct) in the Athens Derivatives Exchange on Thursday,
with turnover at 55.029 million euros. Volume on the Big Cap index
totaled 7,268 contracts worth 40.671 million euros, with 26,520 open
positions in the market.

Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis addressed on Thursday an event on the
impact of the world economic crisis on children and child trafficking,
jointly organised by her ministry and Unicef.

"Three days ago we presented an awareness campaign on refugee crises,
together with the UN's High Commission in Greece. Today, this thorny
issue is no less important: it is the trafficking of children,"
Bakoyannis said, noting "we should not allow the economic crisis to
become a crisis of values."

On his part, Unicef's Greek section president Lambros Kanellopoulos
said that the international organisation worked jointly with the Greek
foreigm ministry, on a local, regional and national levels to increase
awareness and sensitise people to the problem.

Two unrelated incidents of arson attacks were recorded in Thessaloniki
at dawn on Thursday and on Wednesday evening.

Unidentified individuals used a homemade incendiary device in an
attempt to torch the ruling New Democracy (ND) party offices in the
district of Papafi at 2 am on Thursday. The explosion and subsequent
fire caused only minor damage to a glass façade.

In a separate incident earlier on Wednesday night, unidentified
individuals had placed an incendiary device made of propane canisters
outside the main building of the Hellenic Telecommunications
Organization (OTE S.A.) in the center of the city.

Police bomb disposal experts arrived on the scene following a telephone
call warning of the attack and safely removed the device, which did not
go off.

A 'creeping' fire that broke out late on Wednesday in a remote wooded
region in the district of Loutraki, Aridea Municipality, in Pella
Prefecture northern Greece, is showing signs of abating after
firefighting efforts that continued overnight.

Three fire engines, 6 firemen, and two water-bombing aircraft
participated in the daylight efforts on Wednesday and Thursday to
extinguish the fire that threatened no residential areas.

The Kipoi customs post at Evros, in the extreme northeast of Greece, on
Thursday reported yet another major drug haul, the fourth this month.
An announcement said that two people travelling on a bus from Istanbul
to Thessaloniki and Athens had been arrested on drugs charges and 14
kilos of heroin confiscated.

The drugs were located by the sniffer-dog Gina, hidden in the luggage
of two young men, one from Bulgaria and the other from Romania.

The 20-year-old Bulgarian was hiding 6.9 kilos of heroin in his
suitcase, while the 24-year-old Romanian was carrying 7.1 kilos of
heroin in his luggage. The drugs were hidden in false bottoms and
linings of the suitcases, surrounding by pepper and cinnamon in an
attempt to throw the dogs off the scent.

On the Turkish side of the border, meanwhile, Turkish customs officials
reported the arrest at dawn on Thursday of a 25-year-old Estonian man
carrying four kilos of heroin, who was also travelling on the same bus
line.

Authorities on Thursday announced the arrest of two men aged 33 and 30
years old, respectively, on charges of purse snatching and armed
robbery.

They were arrested by police in Pefki, Attica Prefecture, on Tuesday
night and following a police investigation it was established that they
had formed a criminal gang a year ago to commit armed robberies.

They are accused of 8 robberies in supermarkets, in four of which they
had opened fire, injuring a client and a supermarket manager in two
separate incidents. They are also facing charges for holding up a gas
station and snatching the bags of 18 women.

Police found in their possession two motorcycles used in their illegal
activities and air gun.

Sunny weather is forecast throughout Greece on Friday, with possible
showers later in the day. Winds from mainly northerly directions, light
to moderate, up to 7 Beaufort in the Aegean. Temperatures will range
between 18C and 37C. Sunny and hot in Athens, with temperatures between
22C and 37C. Same in Thessaloniki, with temperatures between 21C and
35C.

The new measures for protection from the new fllu pandemic announced on
Wednesday, including the innoculation of high-risk population groups,
planned measures against terrorism, and the economy were the main
front-page items in Thursday's dailies.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "ESY (National Health Systemt) collapsing due to
debts? Debt was 5.22 billion euros at end-2008, and is anticipated to
increase by an additional 2 billion euros in 2009".

APOGEVMATINI: "Federation of Home Owners' clarifications on
Environment, Town Planning and Public Works ministry regulations".

Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou has said that a solution to
the Cyprus problem is feasible by the end of the year, provided that
Turkey, which occupies one third of Cyrpus' territory, changes its
stance.

Invited Thursday to comment on statements made by the spokesman of the
Turkish Foreign Ministry that a solution is possible by the end of
2009, Stephanou pointed out that an agreement is possible by December,
adding: "but many things must change in order to achieve that".

"The first thing that needs to change is Turkey's stance", he said,
noting that if Turkey adopts a constructive stance, progress and
convergence could be achieved which could create a momentum to reach a
solution.

Invited to comment on press information that Britain has asked the UN
Secretary General to invite the leaders of the two Cypriot communities
in September to New York, Stephanou clarified that Cypriot President
Demetris Christofias has not been invited to participate in such a
meeting.

He said that in September, President Christofias would attend and
address the UN General Assembly as head of state, just like every
year.

The spokesman was also invited to comment on information that EU and UN
officials speak of an ''international timeframe'' expiring in December
regarding prospects to solve the Cyprus problem.

President Christofias expressed Wednesday ''anger and regret'' at any
suggestion that EU leading personalities or UN officials might be
talking about timeframes.

Clarifying that the agreement reached regarding the Cyprus process does
not include any strict timeframes or arbitration, Stephanou said that
the solution of the Cyprus problem would be a product of an agreement
between the two communities, "meaning it would be a mutually acceptable
solution which will be put to separate and simultaneous referenda".

Stephanou said that any statements which suggest that December is a
timeframe for the solution of the Cyprus problem, or imply strict
timeframes or question the agreed procedure of the Cyprus talks, create
a bad climate, a reaction and even anger.

"It is for this reason that yesterday (Wednesday), President
Christofias clarified once again that we have an agreed procedure which
everyone must respect", he concluded.

President Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat have
been engaged in UN-led talks since September 2008, with a view to
finding a negotiated settlement that will reunite the country, divided
since the Turkish invasion of 1974.

[27] British MPs express full support to Greek Cypriot stance in Cyprus
talks

LONDON (CNA/ANA-MPA)

British MPs, who participated in a meeting in London on the Cyprus
problem, expressed their full support to the stance of the Greek
Cypriot side in talks for a Cyprus settlement.

They also deplored Turkey's stance, noting that the key to a solution
lies with Ankara and that Britain and the US can and must help towards
achieving a settlement.

Opening the discussion in a parliament hall, President of the National
Federation of Cypriots in the United Kingdom Peter Droussiotis, who
presided over the meeting, said ''Turkey has created an illegal regime
and is trying to change the demography of the occupied areas and
destroy its cultural heritage.''

''This by a country knocking at the door of Europe. A Europeanised
Turkey which fulfils a positive role, a democratic Turkey, is a
strategic imperative even more so for a small island like Cyprus whose
existence and survival depends not on military might but on
international law. Turkey has a unique opportunity with the direct
negotiations to demonstrate that it can change. The UK, a close ally of
Turkey, with historic responsibilities to Cyprus, must exert real
pressure on the Turkish government to support in deeds the true unity
of the island,'' he added.

Labour MP Eddie O'Hara paid tribute to President of the Republic of
Cyprus Demetris Christofias for his integrity, consistency and
indefatigability in conducting the talks, adding that Turkish Cypriot
leader Mehmet Ali Talat has not a free hand, Ankara has it, and Turkey
cannot be allowed to enter the EU without the solution of the Cyprus
problem.

Conservative MP Roger Gale said he has a huge admiration for President
Christofias for his tenacity and determination in the talks but Talat
cannot deliver, since ''the solution lies with Turkey and beyond, I
believe it lies with the USA.''

Labour MP Rudi Vis said that the EU should stop entry negotiations with
Turkey until it solves the Cyprus problem and its internal problems.

Conservative MP Nigel Waterson said that he is pleased with the small
progress made at the talks although he realises that Turkey is a
limiting factor.

Labour MP Joan Ryan, who served as Special Representative of the Prime
Minister on Cyprus, praised President Christofias for insisting on the
talks because it is the only way for reaching a solution, noting that
whenever a British Minister meets a Turkish counterpart the Cyprus
issue is on the agenda.

She expressed certainty that the new Minister for Europe Glynis Kinnock
will show strong support for Cyprus as the previous Ministers did.

Labour MP David Lepper said that Turkey thinks the world will forget
about Cyprus by showing signs of modernising and by presenting itself
as a player on the international stage, noting that persistence and
dedication will make sure this will not happen.

Conservative MP and Shadow Secretary for Transport Theresa Villiers
said that the international community and the British governments have
failed Cyprus, adding that the issue will continue to be a priority for
her and that she supports President Christofias' stand on the talks.

Labour MP Andrew Love said he is a 100% supporter of President
Christofias and his government, noting that every effort should be made
in exercising all possible influence on Turkey and that the window of
opportunity that exists now may not be there forever.

Conservative MP and Shadow Minister for Justice David Barrowes said
that the National Federation should try and lobby all candidates for
the next general election.

Ex Labour MP Tom Cox said that both Labour governments have failed
Cyprus, which deserves better.

The gathering was also attended by Labour MPs Jimmy Wright and Jimmy
Sheridan, who did not take the floor, as well as Cyprus' General Consul
Evangelos Savva.

Before the gathering, an event was held outside the parliament for the
missing persons, with the distribution of leaflets and a live
presentation.